No hearse van at GH, kin carry man’s body in auto
Madurai: With no hearse van available at Rajapalayam Government Hospital in Virudhunagar, the family of a 61-year-old man carried his body home in an autorickshaw. The relatives signed the required documents and took the body in an autorickshaw to Sundaranachiarpuram, barely 10 minutes from the hospital, he said.
“His family opted against waiting for a hearse van and volunteered to transport the body themselves,” said a hospital official. Doctors treated him for myocardial infarction, but he died of cardiogenic shock. Following complaints that a temporary hospital worker demanded bribes to arrange such transport, he was removed from service on Thursday.
Once the body is handed over, they have to either wait for the Sivakasi vehicle or make their own transport arrangements,” said an official. Passersby filmed the scene and the video went viral, bringing complaints about the way families are forced to arrange transport when a death occurs at the hospital. “Natural deaths leave families with a different choice. The hospital has now written to the joint director of health seeking a hearse van landing point at Rajapalayam.